Navigating the Early-Growth Flywheel with Online Community

Community Power & Smart Metrics for Growth Success

Hello! I'm Kevin Wang. By day, I'm immersed in my role as a product manager, but by night, I'm behind the creation of tulsk.io. I frequently explore the depths of startups, focusing on UX, product management, and personal growth strategies to boost productivity. My aim? To impart knowledge and support solo entrepreneurs as they navigate the initial phases of their ventures.

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Today’s Takeaways:

• Engaging with communities on Reddit, Quora, and Twitter/X can significantly impact business growth, especially if they have been active for a long time.

• The early-growth flywheel approach, focusing on understanding customer problems and building organic word of mouth, is a cost-effective strategy to attract and retain loyal customers.

• Tracking key engagement, reach, and conversion metrics on platforms ensures an optimized digital strategy, with tools like Google Analytics, Surfkey, and Gummysearch aiding in comprehensive insights and actions.

When we first started our startup, finding cheap ways to grow wasn't easy. We were so used to the big company setup. Now, we're wondering: Where can we find questions from people who might be our customers? How can we spot good business ideas and work on them?

Reminds us of a timeless quote by Zig Ziglar:

“ If you help other people get what they want, you will get everything you need in life.”

Especially in today's competitive business landscape, finding cost-effective strategies to drive growth is essential for any company. One such strategy is implementing an early-growth flywheel, which focuses on maximizing results while minimizing costs.

In this blog post, we will explore the concept of an early-growth flywheel and provide a detailed outline of creating and optimizing one for your business.

Understanding the Early-Growth Flywheel

Think of the early-growth flywheel as a digital support hub; it not only aids but also expands in the process. The true essence of this magic is evident on platforms such as Reddit, Quora, and Twitter/X.

Through these platforms, businesses can offer their expertise and seamlessly connect with potential customers seeking their solutions.

The Power of Online Communities

Research from The Community Roundtable in 2020 showcased the immense ROI potential of branded online communities. Here's a breakdown of the ROI for different community types:

• Average Communities: 4,530% ROI

• Advanced Communities: 7,071% ROI

• External Communities: 6,130% ROI

• Internal Communities: 1,967% ROI

Interestingly, the longer a community has been active, the higher the ROI:

• Less than 1 year: 1,469%

• 2 years: 2,778%

• 4 years: 4,136%

• 7 years: 4,782%

• 10 years: 5,315%

The key to flourishing communities is offering members value that exceeds their contributions.

Creating an Early-Growth Flywheel

Early-Growth Flywheel

Thinking about the customer journey as an infinity loop, not a funnel. - KYLE POYAR

Here are four key distinct stages to create an Early-Growth Flywheel:

1. Understanding Customer Problem: Use keyword research to discover potential clients and identify content niches.

2. Educating & Onboarding: No hard selling your product. Instead, make them aware of your value proposition

3. Build Word of Mouth: Your contributions in online forums and communities remain, establishing trust with future clients.

4. Attract New Customers: Generate customers that are loyal to your brand. In turn, those customers convert more customers, who convert more customers

A good example can be seen in Deels response to a customer's concern in a Reddit Discussion

How to Optimize Early-Growth Flywheel?

Analyzing data and metrics

• Engagement Metrics:

  • Upvotes/Downvotes: The number of positive and negative reactions to your answers or posts. This gives an idea of the quality and relevance of your content.

  • Comments/Replies: The number of users engaging directly with your posts. More comments often indicate higher engagement and interest.

• Reach Metrics:

  • Views: The number of times your answer or post has been viewed. This shows the extent of your content's exposure.

  • Shares: How many times users share your content outside of the platform, extending its reach.

• Conversion Metrics:

  • Click-through Rate (CTR): The number of users who click on any links you've provided in your answers or posts. This indicates the effectiveness of your call-to-action.

  • Referral Traffic: The number of users who visit your website or landing page directly from your posts on Quora or Reddit.

• Reputation and Authority:

  • Followers: The number of users who follow your profile or subscribe to your threads, indicating trust and interest in your expertise.

  • Best Answer/Top Contributor Recognition: On platforms like Quora, being recognized as a top answerer or having your response marked as the "best answer" can be a metric of authority and credibility.

• Content Longevity:

  • Evergreen Responses: Monitor how older posts continue to perform over time. If they consistently attract views and engagement, they can be considered "evergreen," providing lasting value.

• Feedback and Insights:

  • Direct Messages: The number of direct messages or inquiries you receive based on your posts can provide qualitative insights into customer interest or concerns.

  • Sentiment Analysis: Measure the tone of comments and discussions around your posts. Are they largely positive, negative, or neutral? This can give insights into audience perception.

• Brand Mentions:

  • Unprompted Mentions: Track how often users mention your brand or products unprompted in other threads or discussions. This is a direct indication of WOM.

• Content Metrics:

  • Answer Requests: On Quora, the number of times users request your input on a particular topic can be a KPI of your brand's perceived expertise.

  • Saved Posts: On Reddit, track how many users save your post for later reference, indicating its value.

Utilizing analytics tools:

• Google Analytics: Attach UTM parameters to links you post on Quora or Reddit. This ensures you can trace back visitor influx directly through Google Analytics.

• Surfkey: Get real-time alerts on chosen Reddit keywords, be it in your email, Slack, or Discord.

• Gummysearch: Dive deep into Reddit for valuable customer insights. Highlight key challenges, evaluate sentiment towards available solutions, and find individuals keen on your product.

Conclusion

Implementing a cheap early-growth flywheel can be a game-changer for businesses looking to achieve growth on a limited budget. By understanding the concept, creating an effective flywheel, and continuously optimizing it, companies can maximize their results while minimizing costs.

Thanks again for being a part of The Curiosity Ashes Newsletter.

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Hi! Got something on your mind? Ask away! We can even chat over coffee if you're around. Just hit reply with 'Hi, I'm (your name)', and I'll share a fun article or video I recently enjoyed.

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